Canada has taken one small step closer to being considered for a Major League Baseball expansion team.
Vancouver city council approved on Wednesday a measure that would “identify and evaluate” potential owners to bid for the right to seek an MLB expansion franchise for the city.
A council member’s motion by Mayor Ken Sim that would begin the process of finding qualified owners, called an “Expression of Interest,” was approved by Vancouver city council.
According to a CBC report, Sim called adding an expansion team a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” and “a home run” for the city.
“I want to assure everyone that this motion did not come out of left field,” Sim said at council, according to the CBC. “Our office has been approached by serious proponents regarding a potential bid for the MLB.”
He added that public funds would not be used for the franchise or the potential franchise’s stadium.
The high-A Vancouver Canadians, a Toronto Blue Jays affiliate in the Northwest League, play at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium, which has a capacity of 6,500.